Salmon feva
MMM! I just made salmon tonight and had to post the amazing and simple salmon recipe from the Barefoot Contessa. The trick is to use fresh fish, which you can easily get at a Whole Foods. I spent only eight dollars for a pound and it was more than enough for Brandon and I. Ask your butcher to take the bone out the middle and to take out the pinbones. Purchase a salmon steak instead of the fillet. Yes, there is a difference.
It's so good. Yum. I want some more.
Oh, didn't do the lentils. Lentils give me the heebejeebees. Not really-but I had a bad experience with them once.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. For the salmon, heat a dry oven-proof saute pan over high heat for 4 minutes. Meanwhile, rub both sides of the salmon fillets with olive oil and season the tops very liberally with salt and pepper.
When the pan is very hot, place the salmon fillets seasoning-sides down in the pan and cook over medium heat without moving them for 2 minutes, until very browned. Turn the fillets and place the pan in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes, until the salmon is cooked rare (or medium).
Let salmon rest for 10 minutes. Enjoy!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
potty training strike
Well, my dear little Ava has selected diapers over big girl pants. I am not going to push the potty training until she is ready (ie. not screaming while on the toilet). I may try again this week.
I was a little down because she had successfully gone all day the day before she had a potty strike. She simply refused to sit down on the potty and we were dragging her kicking and screaming. Needless to say that's a little too much for me to handle with a 9-week-old who is having a growth spurt and eating every 1.5 hours. Last week was rough. But hey, God is full of grace. Funny thing. That was the message last week at church.
Man, if you are a parent, you will realize you are weak all of the time. Before you are a parent you say things like, "I will never spank my kid," or "my kid will never do that!" I guess it's God's way of refining us and making us like him.
what a great verse to remember: WHATEVER YOU DID UNTO ONE OF THE LEAST,YOU DID UNTO ME
I was a little down because she had successfully gone all day the day before she had a potty strike. She simply refused to sit down on the potty and we were dragging her kicking and screaming. Needless to say that's a little too much for me to handle with a 9-week-old who is having a growth spurt and eating every 1.5 hours. Last week was rough. But hey, God is full of grace. Funny thing. That was the message last week at church.
Man, if you are a parent, you will realize you are weak all of the time. Before you are a parent you say things like, "I will never spank my kid," or "my kid will never do that!" I guess it's God's way of refining us and making us like him.
what a great verse to remember: WHATEVER YOU DID UNTO ONE OF THE LEAST,YOU DID UNTO ME
Sophia is 10 weeks today
Little bear, Sophia Jane, is 10 weeks and cooing loudlySophia Momma Mia as we call her is 10-weeks-old today. She is cooing now and loves her play mat, which has a mirror that she loves. It seems that Ava loves to come and kick her playfully, which we are working on. It's kind've getting to be fun to see them interact though. Ava loves "sissy" and says, "Sorry baby!" everytime she accidentally (or intentionally) hits her. Hmm. Brandon says that what she says the most!
Sophia and I took a nap together today and it just amazed me how good God is to our family. We have such a great family, and I am really thankful for everything we have been given. She is getting so big. Sophia is now around 11.5 lbs. She is wearing 3 month clothes and has the chubbiest cheeks and fat rolls on her little thighs.
We had pictures from the orphanage in Cambodia shown in church on Sunday. While they were showing all of the children that were there, I just looked at Sophia and thought how lucky we were to be able to provide for our children. I pray that those children have parents that are able to provide for them.
what's going on in your neck of the woods
Two weeks ago we got a crazy snowstorm that kept us cooped up in the house for a little bit. Here's how much snow we got! Care for a sip of tea on our patio?
Ava and Isabelle played piano together and had a ball.
Mom, Jessie, me and Becca at Jessie's birthday. I never posted this photo.Wednesday, February 11, 2009
ann and tommy
We got a chance to visit Ann and Tommy, our good friends, a couple of weeks ago. Ava had a ball running through the house. So good to see you guys!!
"Mothers Together"
With a newborn and a toddler, days can be extremely crazy. Sometimes I am just exhausted, my back hurts from doing diapers and feedings and I am overwhelmed with the enormity of chasing and parenting a 2-year old. That's why I was so excited to read a book that made me cry because it was so heartfelt and real. I am not talking Bible thumping and preaching, no! This book was an honest look at motherhood.
"Mothers Together" written by Ruth and Gigi Graham is an engaging look at the life of two amazing moms. In the book, they both share intimate details about their lives in an essay form.
Some of the pages are from their own diaries and offer an intimate portrayel of a mom's daily life. Read it!
"Mothers Together" written by Ruth and Gigi Graham is an engaging look at the life of two amazing moms. In the book, they both share intimate details about their lives in an essay form.
Some of the pages are from their own diaries and offer an intimate portrayel of a mom's daily life. Read it!
Ava's Ilk
Ava's milk, or "ilk," break before she goes to play outside in the snow! She was 23 months.Congrats Christina and Troy
Congrats to our Michigan aunt and uncle -- Christina and troy! They are expecting baby sprite 8/25! Yeah!!!!
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Ava's Two!
Getting Ava ready for her big "2" birthday cake.
Brandon, Ava and I before she blew out her candles.
Ava and Ethan getting in double trouble.
Ava's Dora cake from fondant that I made for her. She loves Dora!
Ava was so excited to get 10 from Grandma Yoder. She went around the room showing everyone.Monday, February 02, 2009
Potty time
Potty time
Ava just turned two and so it goes that it's time to try and have her go to the potty. Ava has been going through potty training boot camp since Sunday and so far we have had:
1. At least three accidents on the carpet
2. Two poopy mistakes
3. 5 wet pair of Dora underwear
4. 4 rolls of smarties gone as bribes
To get her trained, I really just followed my friends Emily, Amy and Kelly's advice of having them go commando for a little while. This has been hilarious and very messy. but, she is not liking having wet underwear so both are working.
Today, I sent Brandon a text message that read, "I am gng 2 lose it." (Ashton Kutcher reference). he. It was 1:41 p.m. and Sophia had a bad morning and Ava was not going to sleep for her nap that afternoon. She was in her room yelling, "Dora!" So I took all of her toys out of the room.
And our construction project next door was going strong. Please Lord say they will be done soon! It's been 9 months of constant 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. construction. I can sympathize with Kutcher. It gets old really quick to hear constant banging. You can make fun of him, but we have had banging pipes, that awful beeping sound you hear when a truck is backing up, and tons of other things like hammering and constant banging. I just want our quiet park back!
Anyways, I hope it gets better. Emily said after two days sometimes it clicks. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.
On a different note: Yes, i have not had time to post anything. Right now it's 10 p.m. and the whole house is alseep (knock on wood). I have a ton of pictures from Ava's birthday that I wanted to post. Miss Sophia, our beautiful 9 week old daughter, and Ava have their 2 month and 2 year checkups this Friday! I will post their stats for you all.
Until then wish me luck in potty land.
Ava just turned two and so it goes that it's time to try and have her go to the potty. Ava has been going through potty training boot camp since Sunday and so far we have had:
1. At least three accidents on the carpet
2. Two poopy mistakes
3. 5 wet pair of Dora underwear
4. 4 rolls of smarties gone as bribes
To get her trained, I really just followed my friends Emily, Amy and Kelly's advice of having them go commando for a little while. This has been hilarious and very messy. but, she is not liking having wet underwear so both are working.
Today, I sent Brandon a text message that read, "I am gng 2 lose it." (Ashton Kutcher reference). he. It was 1:41 p.m. and Sophia had a bad morning and Ava was not going to sleep for her nap that afternoon. She was in her room yelling, "Dora!" So I took all of her toys out of the room.
And our construction project next door was going strong. Please Lord say they will be done soon! It's been 9 months of constant 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. construction. I can sympathize with Kutcher. It gets old really quick to hear constant banging. You can make fun of him, but we have had banging pipes, that awful beeping sound you hear when a truck is backing up, and tons of other things like hammering and constant banging. I just want our quiet park back!
Anyways, I hope it gets better. Emily said after two days sometimes it clicks. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.
On a different note: Yes, i have not had time to post anything. Right now it's 10 p.m. and the whole house is alseep (knock on wood). I have a ton of pictures from Ava's birthday that I wanted to post. Miss Sophia, our beautiful 9 week old daughter, and Ava have their 2 month and 2 year checkups this Friday! I will post their stats for you all.
Until then wish me luck in potty land.
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